Every Child Matters hockey event advances truth and reconciliation through sport

KAMLOOPS – Saturday night (Sept. 21), the second annual Every Child Matters hockey game was held at Sandman Centre — the first time the event was held in the city of Kamloops.

The game is held to promote awareness and action for truth and reconciliation through sport. Led by an organization known as the Orange Jersey Project, organizers hope to give people a fun time but also help them learn about the history of residential schools.

“It’s fitting to have the second annual game here because this is where… I guess you could say ground zero with the 215,” Orange Jersey Project co-founder Tyler Fuller told CFJC Today.

Throughout the day activities were held including an autograph signing with former NHLers, Olympians and actors. All of them were more than happy to dedicate their time to a cause close to their hearts.

“I’m Indigenous. I think it’s important that my dad went through a day school — not to the point where the residential schools was, but still was in the system,” said former NHL player John Chabot. “To be able to talk about it, to be able to bring that forward… I think it’s very important to any Indigenous person — not just the ones who were affected because we were all affected by it in one way or another.